In recognition of those that have experienced sexual violence, Sarah’s Place, a regional Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) center, opened this month at Samaritan Albany General Hospital.
Each year, thousands of women, men and children face some type of sexual assault and, on average, only 5 percent report their experience and seek care. Survivors of sexual assault frequently have limited access to immediate care and examination by qualified staff. Sarah’s Place aims to change that statistic by providing compassionate, expert care.
Sarah’s Place delivers enhanced, centralized services to sexually assaulted victims in Linn and Benton counties. Staffed by nurses with specialized training, the SANE center is available to patients twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and can administer forensic testing kits, provide counseling and support patients in a safe and private environment. Patient transportation is available for patients traveling from the coast.
Located on the first floor of the Ambulatory Surgery Center, Sarah’s Place is the first SANE center in Oregon to provide a setting where sexual assault nurse examiners can work with victims in a secure facility separate from the trauma center.
Community members are invited to an open house at Sarah’s Place on Wednesday, Aug. 24, from 3 to 5 p.m. Tours of the new facility and more information about this regional service will be available.
Medical forensic exams provided at the SANE center are free as a result of the State of Oregon Crime Victim’s fund. Sarah’s Place is supported by community partners: Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence, Oregon State University and more.
For more information, or to learn how you can support Sarah’s Place, visit us online at samhealth.org/SarahsPlace or call 541-812-4759.